Seed cotton handling and transport pallet

ABSTRACT

A light strong pallet flexible in limited amount and in selective direction receives uniformly compressed mass of seed cotton from a mobile press assembly and is structured to provide for transfer of the thus loaded pallet to and from a transport trailer therefor without permanent disruption of the shape of uniformly compressed mass.

United States Patent Husky Apr. 22, 1975 [54] SEED TT N HANDLING AND 1359.835 11/1920 Peasc 108/51 3,l72.374 3/l965 Allen 3.779.57] lZ/l973 Ahmling 280/19 [76] Inventor: Glover A. Husky. 3003 Manioca Rd. L bb k T 79403 u 07 7\ Primary E.\'un1iner-Francis K. Zugel Flledi 1973 Attorney Agent. or Firm-Ely Silverman 21 Appl. No.: 428,384

[57] ABSTRACT 52 U.S. :2 2; 2; l 1 Cl 280/19 80/ 4 4 A hght strong pallet flexlble 1n l1m1ted amount and In [1 1m. CL B62) 9/04 selective direction receives uniformly compressed [58] Field 10 S mass of seed cotton from a mobile press assembly and 7 780/; 4 is structured to provide for transfer of the thus loaded 7 7 7 pallet to and from a transport trailer therefor without [56] References Cited permanent disruption of the shape of uniformly com- UNITED STATES PATENTS pressed mass 961.856 6/1910 Hcckman 280/19 X 2 Claims, 26 Drawing Figures I02 Jrg7c I I 766 llsoc l lelcllIlII 77 I I6OB ISIB 7 1/ l/ I 104 I I I I I I I 4608' hens B T,- l/ l/ l 4- Z I l IGOA L 67A 17 IIIIIIIIIIG IA e3 |6l I I I I 66A 76 I I I 72 101 1 7 PATENWTEEAPRZZIBTS M v i $8 9 SHEET 1 If 7 FIG. v

Pmmmvazzms 3.819.049

SHEETS? FIG/l 50 I, Z Z IIIIZIIIHIII I Q SZ 'd I, i !lljll llllllgwfll I /Il ll if! I I I II l 1/ l/ 48 .0.

SEED COTTON HANDLING AND TRANSPORT PALLET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The fields of art to which this invention pertains are pallets and cotton forming, loading and transport means.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art for handling and transporting large masses of seed cotton. as in US. Pat. No. 3,749,003, have not provided a pallet sufficiently sturdy to withstand the stresses of handling large scale masses of seed cotton thereon and that is also effectively handled by manual labor and, on usual necessary handling and transport of such pallets when loaded, preserves the degree of uniform density and surface produced by mobile presses used to form such seed cotton masses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a system comprising a mobile press assembly, a pallet and tilt bed transport means, a mobile press is structured to load a pallet with a mass of vertically compressed seed cotton at a uniform density without development of horizontal or lateral compressive stress as might, after removal of the loaded pallet from the mobile press, result in extrusions of the compressed seed cotton: the pallet, while light enough to be handled by manual labor, is formed to provide such limited bowing that no compression is developed in the mass thereon as results in permanent disruption of the even interior density and surface of the loaded mass during movement of the loaded pallet to and from a tilt bed trailer transport therefor, transport on the trailer, and storage in the field or at the gin yard.

The pallet for this purpose comprises an imperforate water-impermeable transversely grooved thin corrugated sheet and a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending like runners, each runner composed of two like vertically extending outwardly sloped side walls and a bottom flat smooth horizontal sheet, the side walls firmly yet resiliently joined at corners along the total length of their bottom edges to the total length of the left edge and right edges, respectively, of the bottom sheet and extending upwardly therefrom and the sheet is firmly connected to the top of the side walls at regularly longitudinally spaced apart points at greater distances than the points of contact of said sheet and said runners and the height of the sheet varies in periodic and uniform continuous manner from lowest points to highest points, and intermediate portions of the sheet extend vertically therebetween and are continuous therewith and provide support for its horizontally extending portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows the mobile press assembly during its operation of forming a module and a loaded pallet assembly formed therewith.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view of a stage in the step of covering of the mass formed on the pallet.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic showing of a stage in step of drawing loaded pallet assembly on a trailer.

FIG. 4 is an isometric diagrammatic phantom view of a stage of drawing the pallet 50 into the mobile press assembly.

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the empty mobile press assembly 21 along the vertical plane 5A-5A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a portion of the press assembly as seen 5 along direction of arrow 6A of FIG. 5 and pictorially showing mechanisms on the outer side and rear of one vertical post 117 of plunger assembly 22.

FIG. 7 is a detail of the press assembly as seen along arrow 7A of FIG. 5 showing mechanism on inner side of vertical post 117 of the plunger assembly 22.

FIG. 8 is a top oblique view along direction of arrow 8A of FIG. 5 showing detail of the connection of the plunger cylinder 37 to its support.

FIG. 9 is a rear view along direction 9A of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic isometric illustration of'the principal parts of the plunger assembly 22.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the bottom of pallet 50.

FIG. 12 is a full scale side view ofa hook element 195 used with the pallet 50 in loaded assembly 190 of FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 13 is an oblique top view of the pallet 50.

FIG. 14 is a transverse vertical sectional view along vertical plane 14Al4A of FIG. 19E but on a different scale.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the front end of a runner 51, generally as seen along direction of arrow 15A of FIG. 13, with plate 55 removed therefrom and is drawn to scale.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of front end of runner 51 as seen along plane 16A16A of FIG. 15 in zone 16B of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic longitudinal vertical section of portion of pallet 50 in zone 17C of FIG. 3 along plane l7A-17A of FIG. 11.

FIG. 17A is a transverse vertical sectional view at plane 17B-l7B of FIG. 17. FIG. 17B is a transverse vertical section of a pallet 250 in a transverse vertical section such as plane 17Bl7B to illustrate other runner structures.

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic transverse longitudinal sectional view along plane l7A-l7A of FIG. 11 at zone 18C of FIG. 3.

FIG. 18A is a transverse vertical sectional view along plane l8B18B of FIG. 18. FIGS. 17, 17A, 18 and 18A are diagrammatic and exaggerated for purpose of illustration to demonstrate the change in shape of runner walls as 61 and 63 relative to'the base sheet 62 during transfer of the loaded pallet assembly 190 to the trailer 170; also, the FIG. 18, the attachment of runner 51 to the sheet 55 is shown at cxaggeratedly widely spaced apart lower points 160 and 166 of pallet 55 by spot welds 221 and 223 to illustrate the bowing of side wall plates 63 relative of base plate 62 in zone 18C.

FIGS. 19AE are diagrammatic side views of loaded pallet assembly 190 at different stages of movement thereof from ground to tilt bed trailer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The system 20, according to this invention, comprises a mobile press assembly 21, a pallet assembly 50, a loaded pallet assembly and tilt bed tractor 170.

The Mobile Press Assembly The mobile press assembly 21 comprises a plunger subassembly 22, a container sub-assembly 23, and a tractor 24. The mobile press assembly comprises the plunger subassembly 22 supported on the container subassembly 23; assembly 23 is attached to and drawn by the tractor 24. The container subassembly comprises a plurality of rigid vertical walls 3134, i.e., a front wall 31, a left side wall 32, a right side wall 33 and a movable rear wall 34. Lateral to each of the left and right walls are rotatable wheels as 25 and 25, with vertically adjustable wheels supports as 26 and 26 which are firmly attached to walls 32 and 33 provided with wheel support lifting means 27 and 27'. A power supply 40 comprising a hydraulic pump and high pressure reservoir is connected to each such wheel support lift means.

The walls 31-34 enclose a container chamber open at its top. The power supply box is fed by hydraulic input power lines 40 from tractor 24 and is connected by lines as 39 to the wheels support lift means 27 and 27 so that the container subassembly will be elevated over the ground by such wheels during transport of that container subassembly while drawn by the tractor 24. Container chamber 30 is wider at its bottom than at its top and has the same width at its top from front to rear of the walls 32 and 33 and has the same width at its bottom from front wall 31 to rear wall 34.

Such a mobile press assembly is generally shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,749,003; although the mobile press as sembly 21 herein is different from that described in such U.S. Pat. No. 2,749,003 in regard to the tamping or plunger subassembly 22 and the method of aligning the empty pallet by virtue of the use of the winch 41 and cable 42 on the container subassembly.

The lifting means 27 and 27' comprise means for controlably moving the wheels 25 and 25 relative to the walls 31-34. Such means include hydraulic piston cylinders 200 and 201 which are supported on horizontal frame members as 202 and 203 and hydraulic actuation means therefor. The members as 202 and 203 are supported on rigid vertical side wall frame members as 204 and 205 and 206. Each piston shaft as 208 is movable in a cylinder as 200 and 201 attached to wheel supports 26 and 26; actuation of the hydraulic pistons movement of the shaft moves the wheels relative to the walls 31-34.

A winch 41 is supported on the front wall 31 of the container subassembly has a cable 42 wound thereon. The cable 42 passes through a top guide 43 to a bottom guide 44 around cable wheels as 45 through guide 44 whereby to be operatively connected to and act upon the pallet 50, generally as shown in FIG. 4.

The loaded pallet assembly 190 is transported by lifting to and movement on a tilt bed tractor as shown in FIG. 3. Tilt bed tractor 170 comprises a bed 171 and a set of wheels 172. The trailer bed 171 is a rigid flat topped frame of rectangular shape as seen from above with a pointed straight rear end 175 and a straight front end 176; the front end firmly supports a hitch 177 for connection to hitch 24A of tractor 24; a bed winch 173 is mounted on the head end or front end 176 of the bed 171 to move the loaded pallet assembly on the bed 171, as shown in FIG. 3. The rear bed end 175 terminates in a pointed nose or end. Such a trailer is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,487,325 and 2,452,681.

Pallet Assembly 190 The loaded pallet assembly 190 comprises a pallet 55, cables as 191 and 191', a tarpaulin 192 with grommets as 193, hooks as 195 and a cotton mass 197. The mass 197 of cotton bolls is a uniformly compressed mass of 12 to 14 pounds per cubic foot density and its top is covered by a heavy duck waterproof tarpaulin 192 provided with grommets as 193 near its sides; each cable as 191 extends through the eyes of the tarpaulin (eight on each side of the tarpaulin, evenly spaced along a 24 foot length, although only four are shown in FIG. 3) and the eyes as 244 of hooks as 195. The hooks as 195 (and like hooks as 81-85) are firmly connected to the pallet 50.

A conventional power take off on tractor 24 drives a pump 40C that is supported on frame of tractor 24 and operatively connected to power lines as 40 to power supply box 40 and contact valves as 46 and 40A (FlG. 10) for movement of the container subassembly 23 and the plunger subassembly 22. Mass 197 is 8 feet high, crowned higher in its middle than at its sides and ends. Pallet 150 operates as does pallet 50 in assembly 190. The structure of pallet 250 and 50 differs only in the structure of the runners (51-54 for pallet 50, 251254 for pallet 250).

The Tamping Subassembly 22 The tamping or plunger subassembly 22 is movably yet firmly supported on top of and is movable longitudinally of the container subassembly 23. The plunger subassembly comprises a plunger shaft 35, a tamping or plunger head 36, a plunger cylinder 37, a transverse plunger support 38 and a left and right plunger support guide 89 and 89'. The plunger support 38 is a rigid transversely extending frame composed of front and rear transverse frame members 38A and 38B firmly joined together (see FIGS. 6 and 8). The frame has side wheels 38C and 38D and 38E and 38F movably supported on the rigid horizontal head guides 89 and 89 on top of the walls as 32 and 33 of the container subassembly 23. Cables 39B and 39C attach to and move the frame 38 longitudinally of the walls 32 and 33.

A rigid plunger cylinder 37 is supported on frame 38 and extends upward vertically in its operative position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5; a plunger shaft 35 is slidably located in cylinder 37 for movement upward or downward, as determined by a press control valve 46. The bottom end of plunger shaft 35 is firmly attached to the head 36 whereby on activation of the shaft, the flat transversely extending head 36 may compress material as 178 held within the container chamber 30.

Head 36 is a rigid horizontally extending flat bottomed plate that extends horizontally slightly less than the width of the top of container chamber 30.

The plunger subassembly 22 comprises units therein that specifically provides for maintaining the plunger head 36 level during tamping and leveling the mass of cotton in chamber 30 while operating quietly and without depositing grease on the mass of cotton tamped therewith, and in a reliable manner without requiring maintenance over long periods of operation.

More particularly, the transverse rigid frame 38 supports a plurality of chain supporting guide sprocket wheels 111-114, i.e., rear right chain guide sprocket wheel 111 and front right chain guide sprocket wheel 112 are rotatably supported on an rigid axle 120 while the corresponding front left chain guide sprocket wheel 113 and rear left chain guide sprocket wheel 114 are supported on a right inner axle 110. Each axle as also supports an inner left guide roller 125, while an outer guide roller 126 is supported lateral to the left guide post 117 on a left outer axle 119 (FIG. 6).

A flexible left top control chain 115 extends from an upper bracket 137 firmly attached to top of the left post 117 via an adjustment rod 139 with a nut 134 thereon (as in FIG. 7 and FIG. 6) to engage teeth on the bottom and outer side of the guide sprocket wheel 114 and, thence to the top teeth of sprocket guide wheel 111 to attach to a bracket 137 at the bottom of the vertical right post 118 near the junction of that right post to the head 36 as diagrammatically shown in FIG. 10. Adjustment rod 139 has a nut 134 thereon and a spring or lock nut 133 thereunder and provides for tightening of the chain 115.

The middle portion of a flexible right top chain 116 identical in structure and size to chain 115 extends over and engages teeth at the top of left side guide wheel sprocket 113 and extends to and engages the bottom teeth of sprocket guide wheel 112.

The lower end of the left chain 116 is attached to a bracket 136 on the left side of head 36 near the bottom end of post 117. The top end of the right chain 116 extends to an ajustment rod like 139 with a spring supported nut like 134 on a bracket 138 on top of vertical post 118 like bracket 137 on post 117.

The chains 115 and 116 are flexible but dimensionally stable and their attachments to the vertical guides 117 and 118 and head 36 provide that on actuation of the piston shaft 35 in cylinder 37 the bottom face of the plunger head 36 is maintained level or horizontal on its upward and downward motions and on compression of the material as 178 in the container chamber 30 due to the movement of that head against such material and toward the pallet 50 therebelow.

A three-way valve 46, under control of an operator as 100, applies hydraulic fluid to the piston 47 top or bottom to move the shaft 35 (attached to the piston 47 at its top and head 36 at its bottom) and head 36 down and up to tamp the cotton 187 in chamber 30. The valve 46 may also position the head 36 at a fixed vertical height, whereat the head 36 is moved longitudinally along length of chamber 30 on guides 89 and 89 while driven by motor 39A through chains 39B and 39C which chains are attached to frame 38 (see FIGS. 5 and 10) to even out or level the top of the mass of cotton bolls in chamber 30 prior to tamping.

The combination of posts as 117 and 118 vertically movable on rotary guides 125 and 126 for each post, chains as 115 and 116, wheels 111-114 and hydraulic piston of subassembly 22 provides a reciprocatory mechanism to tamp and capable also of exact location to level out the cotton in chamber 30. Because the exposed surfaces of posts 117 and 118 and wheels as 125 and 126 are guide surfaces rather than driving and driven surfaces, such action of the subassembly 22 is accomplished without such an application of grease to surfaces on moving parts of subassembly 22 as would effect the surface characteristics of the mass of harvested cotton bolls 187 located on chamber 30. The reciprocation of the head 36 of subassembly 22 is thereby accomplished quietly so that the operator 100 may manipulate the plunger or tamping subassembly 22 while in voice contact with the operator 155 of a harvester 150 dumping cotton into chamber 30, as shown in FIG. 1. Further, the subassembly 22 is free of shocks (present in usual mechanical gear devices) that cause high wear rates and mechanical failure at inopportune times when cotton is dumped into the container chamber 30 over its top, as shown in FIG. 1, from a harvester 150, the mass 178 in chamber 30 initially has a pyramidal shape with narrow top and may be asymmetrical to front or rear or to one side or the other; notwithstanding the usual asymmetry of such load to which the press head 36 is applied, subassembly 22 provides a vertical compression of such mass 187 in chamber 30 without any lateral component of stress.

Cylinder 37 is supported near its bottom in claims 153 and 154 and is attached at its bottom to a rigid plate 122. Plate 122 is supported on movable rods 123 and 123A thereabove in frame 38. Rods 123 and 123A are located in a slot 123C on top of a rigid ell 123D in plate 38A of frame 38 and on a similar slot and ell 123E in plate 38B of frame 38. This compression provides for a stable mass or bale on top of the pallet when the module formation, according to this process of operation of this apparatus, is completed.

The mounting of the cylinder 37 thus provides for release of the support plate 122 by removing the support rods 123 and 123A (which are locked into place on ell 123D by the nuts 124 and 124A). The cylinder 36 may then move downward through the slot 38C between frame members 38A and 38B and may be moved downward from position shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 for transport purposes without any further disassembly. When operational assembly of portable press assembly 21 is desired, the piston cylinder 37 is moved up on shaft 35 by actuation of the hydraulic liquid pressure in cylinder 37 until the plate 122 is in position as in FIG. 8 whereat the support rods 123 and 123A may be located in the plates 38A and 38B.

The action of plate 36 of plunger assembly 22 avoids any development of horizontal or lateral compressive stress as might, after removal of the loaded pallet 190 from the restraining action of walls 33 and 32 (and 31 and 34) result in extrusion of portions of the mass 197: the tarpaulin has no direct influence on lateral escape of the compressed mass 197.

Pallet 50 The pallet 50 comprises an imperforate water impermeable transversely grooved surface formed of a thin corrugated imperforate steel sheet and a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending runners 51, 52, 53 and 54. Each runner as 51 is composed of a left vertically extending yet outwardly sloped left side wall 61, a bottom flat smooth horizontal sheet 62, a right vertically extending outwardly sloped side wall 63, a top left flange 64, a top right flange 65, a rounded front left end plate 66, a front right end plate 67, a rear left end plate 76, a rear right end plate 77. The left side 61 and the right sides 63 are firmly yet resiliently joined at softly rounded (3/16 inch radius) corners as 61R and 63R along the total length of their bottom edges to the total length of the left edge and right edges, respectively, of the bottom sheet 62. The sheets 61, 62, 63, 64 and flanges 64 and 65 are formed of thin medium carbon sheet steel (0.05 inch thick) resilient yet springy and formed by cold drawing a plate of such material.

The upper end of each of sides 63 and 61 are joined by corresponding soft rounded corners 64R and 65R to flanges 64 and 65, respectively. I

The left side edge joins its front end a rigid metal front left plate 66 with a hole 68 therein while the right side 63 is joined to a rigid front right plate 67 with circular hole 69 thereinv The left side joins a rigid rear left plate 76; the right plate joins a rear right end plate 77 with holes 78 and 79, respectively, therein. These holes 78 and 79 in member 76 and 77 and the like holes 68 and 69 in members 66 and 67 locate a rigid cylindrical drawbar 70 at the front end and a rear drawbar 72 at the rear end.

Corresponding structures in runners 52, 53 and 54 are indicated by referent letters A, B and C, respectively; thus, bottom surface 62, 62A, 62B and 62C are the same structure in each of runners 51, 52, 53 and 54, respectively, and end plates 67, 67A, 67B and 67C are similarly formed and similarly function as herein describedv The surface layer 55 is an iniperforate galvanized corrugated steel sheet with a plurality of like, parallel transversely extending upwardly convex grooves as 56A and downwardly convex portions 56B thereon forming generally a sine curve. Such shape is diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. The top of flanges as 64 and 65 of each of the runners as 51 are firmly joined to the bottom surface of the sheet 55 at portions of such sheet, as 156 and 157 that are spaced apart from each other by greater distances than the points of contact of the sinusoidal curved sheet and the flanges 64 and 65.

As seen in longitudinal cross section, as diagrammatically shown in FIG. 17, sheet 55 is of sinusoidal shape: the lowest points on the lower surface of such surface as points 160, 162, 165, 164, 165 (in FIG, 18), 167 (in FIG. 16), 568 (in FIG. 17) are in contact with top surface of flanges as 64 and 65 (and 64A, 64B, 64C and 65A, and 65C). The high points as 261-263 (in FIG. 18), 167 (in FIG. 16), 56A (in FIG. 17) are /8 inch above the lowest points neighboring thereto and the lowest points like the highest points are 2 /2 inch distant from each other; sheet 55 is l/20 inch thick (26 gauge). The height of sheet 55 over flanges 64 and 65 varies in periodic and uniform continuous manner from lowest points as 160-165 to highest points as 261-266 on the sheet 55. The intermediate portions of the sheet. i.e., the portions (as 268 of FIG, 16) of the sheet 55 between the highest and lowest points as 167 and 169 of sheet 55 extends vertically therebetween and are continuous therewith. Each such portion as 268 is continuous with and provides a ribbing or support action for the horizontal portions, as the generally horizontal top sheet portion 267 near each top point as 169 in FIG. 16 of the sheet 55 and the relatively horizontal bottom portion 267 near the bottom point, as 167 of FIG. 16, of sheet 55.

The point ofjoining of the flanges 64 and 65 on each runner as 51 to the bottom surface of sheet 55 are abreast of each other, as shown for points of joining 160 on flange 65 and 160' on flange 64, and also for points 161 and 161' on flanges 65 and 64, respectively. The points of attachment of the flanges of runners 51, 52, 53 and 54, all the runners of pallet 50, to the bottom surface of sheet 55 are also abreast of each other, as shown in FIG. 11 i.e., at equal distances from the front drawbar 72 and the straight front edge 103 of sheet 55 for the illustrative attachment points 160, 160' on runner 51, points 160A and 160A on flanges 64A and 65A of runners 52., points 160B and 160B on flanges f runner 53, and points 160C and 160C on flanges of runner 54 while points 161, 161', 161A,

161A, 161B, 161B 161C and 161C are also at eaual distances from 72 or abreast of each other, as also shown in FIG. 11.

Each of the end plates 66 and 67, 76 and 77 on runner 51 is like the front left plate 66 of runner 51; plate 66 comprises a rigid rectangular base solid portion and a rounded trapezoidal extension member 141 formed of I50 inch thick steel plate. Left plate 67 comprises a corresponding base 142 of same thickness, size and shape and material as portion 140 and rounded trapezoidal extension plate 143 of same size, material, shape and thickness as 142. Each rectangular base portion as 140 and 142 is firmly attached to one side wall as 61 and 63 of the runner as 51.

The lower edge as 145 of each plate 67 lies in a plane 146 which forms a small acute angle as 147 with the horizontal plane 148 in which the lower surface of the bottom plate portion as 62 of the corresponding runner 51 lies the intersection of planes 146 and 148 and the angle 147 and located in front of front edge 106 of bottom plate 62 of runner 51. This small acute angle 147 is a lesser angle (with such surface 148) than the angle 151 between the ground surface 152 and the top bed surface 174 at the rear end 175 of the tilting bed 171 of the tilt bed trailer used to lift and transport the pallet 50 with the loadof cotton 197 thereon, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 18. The bottom surface 62, 62A, 62B, 62C of each runner as 51, 52, 53 and 54, respectively, is in contact with and may, for all practical purposes, be regarded as co-planar with the top surface 152 of the ground when the pallet is being loaded with cotton, as shown in FIG. 2. Each of the rear end plates as 76, 77 is rigid and firm and is firmly attached to rear of runner side plate as 63 and 61, respectively, as above described for plates 66 and 67. Correspondingly (to the structure of runner 51), each of rear runner end plates 76A, 76B and 76C and 77A, 77B and 77C are firmly attached to rear end ofa runner side plate as 61A, 61B. and 61C and 63A, 63B and 63C. While the side plates 61 and 63 of each runner as 51 (and 52-54) are somewhat flexibly yet permanently attached to the bottom plate thereof, as 62, the welded longitudinally spaced apart attachment of the upper plates 64 and 65 to the bottom surface of layer 55 provides a sufficiently firm location and orientation of the bottom edge as 145 of each end plate as 66 (and 67) that the contact of such sloped bottom edges of the forwardly and upwardly extending portions of arms as 66A and 67A on runner 52 and 66B and 67B on runner 53 and 66C and 67C on runner 54 and pulling of rod 72 toward bed winch 173 in position of parts as shown in FIGS. 3 and 18, lifts the front edge as 103 of sheet 55 and the front edge, as 106 of each bottom plate as 62, 62A, 62B and 62C of each runner as 51, 52, 53 and 54, respectively onto the nose of the rear end 175 of the tilting bed 171 of the bed trailer 170, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 18 Accordingly, each runner as 5154 is rigid at its front and rear end for lifting the loaded pallet assembly 194 onto the trailer 170, yet is sufficiently flexible and res lient at its other portions therebetween, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 18A and 19C and 19D, to avoid development of localized zones of high compressive stress as may provide for distortion or shifting of the loaded pallet assembly 190. i r t 55 A pallet 50 made of only such light 26 gauge 5 lee t (about one thirty-second inch thick) is adequate 2 Carry 15,000 pounds of cotton as 189 on a pallet 5 that is 7 feet 6 inches wide and 24 feet long compressed to a pressure of about pounds per square inch and having a density of 12 to 14 pounds per cubic foot. Sheet 55 (and 255) are each formed of mild steel. type A.S.T.M.A.-446-67, Grade E, with G-90 coating and has a minimum of 80,000 p.s.i. tensile strength; runners 51-54 and 251-254 are also mild steel type A.S.T.- M.A.-445, Grade D, 50,000 psi. minimum tensile strength. Such a 7 foot 6 inch by 24 foot pallet weighs only 400 pounds, although pallet size ranges from 7 to 8 feet wide and 24 to 32 feet length.

A rigid front drawbar 72 passes through holes 68, 69, 68A, 69A, 68B, 68C and 69C. the resilient hold of these plates 141 and 143 including such holes on the portion of the bar 72 adjacent such holes provides a firm grip thereon.

A towbar 230 comprising a rigid plate 231, a left J- shaped hook 233 and a right .I-shaped hook is used to draw the pallet 50 into chamber 30 and upwards of trailer bed 174. The towbar hook 233 releasably yet firmly engages bar 72 between end plates 67A and 68A and hook 232 releasably yet firmly engages bar 72 between end plates 67B and 68B, as shown in FIG. 13, where an operators hand 1001-1 is shown supporting such towbar; the plate 231 is a rigid steel plate with an eye 234 therein for attachment to cable as 178 and 42.

In operation wheels and wheel support means therefor operatively attached to the walls 32 and 33 are adjusted for movement of container 21 about the area at which cotton is harvested and drawn to such areas by the tractor as 24. A towbar 230 is then attached to drawbar 72 and cable 42. The winch 41 is then actuated by an operator as 100 to draw the pallet 55 into the container chamber and locate it between the walls 31-34 of the pallet 50, as shown in FIG. 4. The upper pallet surface is then normal to the vertical path of the plunger 36. The plunger assembly 22 is also movable from front to rear (and vice versa) of chamber 30 and relative to the pallet so that the plunger 36 can act on different portions of the material as 178 added to chamber 30, as shown in FIG. 1 and then supported on different portions of the pallet 55 to even out and compress different portions of such masses supported on that pallet.

On addition of the mass of harvested cotton 154 from harvester 150 to the container chamber 30, the plunger assembly 22 is controlled by the operator 100 to drive the plunger head 36 thereof against the top mass of cotton above the pallet 50 and so form a mass of uniformly compressed cotton 197 of 12 to 14 pounds per cubic foot density.

The tarpaulin 192 is applied to the top surface of mass 197 to cover that mass above the pallet and protects it from rain while the continuous water impermeable surface 55 of the pallet 50 prevents moisture from entering the base of such mass 197 on the loaded pallet. The container walls 31-34 are than raised upward of the mass of cotton 197 within the container chamber 30 and by the wheel support assembly 27 as in US. Pat. No. 3,749,003 or other patents, as US. Pat. No. 2,782,586, wherein a mobile press is used, the rear door 34 removed or raised. The mobile press is then moved away from the pallet 50 thereby leaving the cotton on the pallet 50. The cables as 191 are earlier passed through the grommets as 143 for rapid attachment to the plate edges 48 and 49.

Ell-shaped steel bars 48 and 49 are firmly attached to sheet 55 of its edges 73 and 74 and provide seating of points 241 and arms as 242 for each of hooks as 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85 and 195 on the right side and like hooks as 195 on the left side of assembly 190. Each of these hooks as 195 is formed of a J-shaped hook and a circular loop or eye. The hook is formed'of an arm 242, with a bend 243 and a shaft 245 connected to the eye 244. The end 241 of arm 242 engages the side of the L- shaped side member 73 and eye 244 holds a length of rope as 84 (and 85) on the other side. The tarpaulin 192 has the eyes of grommets as 193 thereof joined to the lengths of rope 191 and weights 198 and 199 provide for a resilient tensioning of the thus covered assembly 190.

The pallet 50 thus loaded is moved up a ramp 174 of the transporter-loader assembly 170 for transport to a gin whereat the cotton added to the container chamber 30 by a harvester as 102, as shown in FIG. 1 is to be treated. The harvester is moved down the ramp at the gin and, after some storage at the gin, the loaded assembly 190 with the pallet 50 is again moved up another ramp to another treating platform at the gin. Following the removal of the cotton from the pallet 50, each pallet as 50 is stacked and, following such stacking, is returned to the grower for further use in the process of forming loaded pallet assemblies as 190, shown in FIG. 1, as above described in relation to the action shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, each pallet as 50 is subjected to several dragging motions in each full cycle of use thereof.

The drawbar 72 of the pallet 50 provides for applying a uniform longitudinal stress to the runners 51-54 by cable 178 of trailer 171. These longitudinal runners are flexible upwardly, i.e., transversely to the length of such runners to provide for movement of the loaded pallet up the loading transporter 170 without damage to the cotton mass as well as to the pallet due to such repeated flexing. The pallet 55 bottom surface is straight, as viewed transversely to its direction of movement, when the combination of module and cotton thereon is drawn to the ramp 174 because the drawbar 72 is rigid and firmly draws on the runner members 51, 52, 53 and 54 and the corrugations of the surface 55 provide rigidity against bowing or bending about an axis transverse to the direction of movement of the mass 197. The corrugations also serve to engage with the mass of cotton 197 pressed thereon, and so assists in movement of the mass up the ramp. The engagement of the mass 197 with the corrugations also provides for stability of such mass 197 of assembly during its transport, after loading as in FIG. 19E, from the ground surface 152 of the field from which such seed cotton 197 is harvested to the gin, where such seed cotton is to be treated.

The runners 51-54 distribute the longitudinal stress of drawing the mass 197 up the ramp of the transport and loading apparatus from the bar 72 to the separate portions of the sheet 55 without sheet 55 bearing any substantial longitudinal stress. Due to the transmission of such lengthwise or longitudinal stress along the runners 51-54 and the method of attachment of such runners to sheet 55 in pallet 50, pallet 50 provides for ready and controlled beinding of each of its increments as the mass of the loaded pallet assembly is drawn upwards of the transport loading apparatus 170.

More particularly, the sloped side walls 61 and 63 of each runner as 51 are able to bend laterally from position shown in FIG. 17A to those shown in FIG. 18A so that while the lower wall, 62, (and 62A, 62B and 62C), of each of the runners as 51 (and 52-54) continues to bear the longitudinal stress from bar 72, each increment of the surface 55 is evenly bent along its length, as shown in FIG. 18, without developing any such protrusions of mass 197 as would otherwise develop from concentration of stresses during loading of the loaded pallet assembly 190 on a transport assembly 170. Protrusions of portions of the seed cotton mass 197 beyond the side surfaces of the mass weakens the tarpaulin attachment of assembly 190 and causes loss of cotton in transport and promotes irregular drying of the mass on top of the pallets.

In the operation of drawing the pallet into the transport, the uniformly transversely bent and grooved surface of sheet 55 and its mode of attachment to the runners 51-54 provide for smooth flexure of all of the corresponding increments of length of sheet 55 as the loaded pallet assembly 190 is moved from the ground 152 onto the sloped loading platform 74, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 18 and 19A-D, as well as similar flexure when the pallet is moved from the transport loader to the ground.

FIGS. 19A19E diagrammatically illustrate stages in the operation provided by the pallet 50 in the system 21. As diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 19A-19E, the shape of the mass of seed cotton 197 on the pallet 50 changes while the loaded pallet assembly 190 is drawn up the ramp bed 171.

At the beginning of the loading operation, as shown in FIG. 1, the front portion of the mass of seed cotton 197 essentially has a vertical front surface 211, a vertical rear surface 214, a horizontal top, front surface 212, a horizontal rear surface 213, a horizontal bottom rear surface 215 and a horizontal front bottom surface 216' On initial movement of the mass 197 up the ramp 171, as shown in FIG. 19A, toward position shown in FIG. 3, the portion 226 of the mass 197 bounded by the small upwardly tilted surface portions 212 and 216 immediately to the rear of front surface 211 forms a thin parallel epipedal mass 226 with the remainder 227 of the mass 197 defined by the surfaces 212, 213, 214 and 215 substantially in the same orientation as when assembly 190 was stationary and resting on the ground, generally as shown at the left side of FIG. 1.

As more of mass 197 is drawn up the ramp 171 by the cable 178, the parallelepiped mass 226 to the front of the junction of the rear end 175 of the bed 170 and the ground 152 (i.e., at angle 151) increases in length. The mass 227 to the rear of apex of angle 151 does not have its shape changed during the initial movement of the mass 197 up the ramp 171 so long as the mass 227 to the rearof plane 218 is very large relative to, and much larger than the mass 226 (which mass 226 is located forward of apex of angle 151) because of the ready deformability of the mass 197 of seed cotton mass 226 is (as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B) distorted to a parallelepiped shape; therefore, the front surface 211 remains parallel to the position of that surface (211) in its rest position (shown in FIG. 1) for that surface. However, by the time, in the process illustrated, a sufficient portion of the mass 197 has been moved up the ramp 175 so that the length of horizontal surface portion 213 and tilted surface portions 212 (along the top of the mass 197) are about equal, the front surface 211 of the mass 197 has an angular position shown in FIG. 19C relative to the upper surface of bed 171 of trailer that is, generally, almost perpendicular thereto; such angular position of surface 211 is between a. the angular relation of surface 211 to the ground 152 at the rest position of the mass 197, as shown in FIG. 1 (where it is, i.e., substantially perpendicular to the ground); and

b. the vertical position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 19A and 19B and in FIG. 19C in dotted line 211A).

Initially, in the sequence of operations shown in FIGS. 13A to 19E, the rear surface 214 of the mass 197 of assembly is in the same angular position relative to the ground surface 152 at it was in the rest position of FIG. 1, but, as the mass 190 moves from left to right, as shown in FIGS. 19A19E (note that the position of apex 151A of angle 151 is stationary), the length and size and weight of mass 226 (to the front of apex of angle 151) exceeds the length and size and weight of mass 227 and surface 214 becomes more parallel to surface 211, as shown in FIG. 19D and in full lines in FIG. 19E.

FIG. 19E shows in full lines the assembly 190 fully supported on the tilted bed of the trailer 170 while the thus loaded trailer 170 is shown in dotted lines in position for being drawn by tractor 24 and being drawn thereby.

During this procedure of change in orientation of surfaces 211 and 214, there is substantial period of time wherein a zone 219 composed of mass of seed cotton of shape of a trienated circular sector or wedge and bounded by surface 218 and 217 in FIGS. 19C and 19D is formed above apex of angle 151. Mass 219 is formed concurrently with the change in shape of mass 197 from a shape symmetrical about a central vertical plane 19F, as in FIG. 1, wherein the top (including portions 212 and 213) is straight as in the bottom surface and the seed cotton therein is evenly compressed to an asymmetric shape as in FIG. 19C, which develops compression between adjacent zones of volumes 226 and 227 immediately below surface portions 212 and 213. The pallet 50 above the apex of angle 150, however, is sufficiently strong although flexible to support the portion of the mass 219 thereabove sufficiently firmly to urge the seed cotton mass above such curved pallet portion upwards so that projection of a first plane 217 perpendicular to the surface of the bed 171 whereat the bottom surfaces of the pallet runners 51-54 are spaced away from the surface of the bed 171 and the projection of a second plane 218 perpendicular to the surface of the ground 152 whereat the bottom edge of pallet runners 51-54 are spaced away from the surface of ground 152 meet at a line 225 which is located substan tially above the intersection of top surface 212 and 213 of the mass 197, as shown in FIGS. 19C and 19D, usually at least one-third of the mass height (surface 215 of 212) of mass 197 above the top of mass 197 measured at the line at apex 151A of angle 151 whereat the plane of the bed 171 meets the surface 152. Thereby the compression of the mass of seed cotton immediately below the top of surface 212 and 213 and above the line (151A) whereat the plane of the trailer bed 171 meets the surface of ground 152 is so reduced that no lateral or horizontal extrusion of that mass 197 occurs.

A part of this upwardly urging action by the curved portion of the pallet 55 is due to the engagement of the bottom of mass 197 and the corrugated surface of sheet 55; such engagement serves to fix the ends of any and each curved portion of runner as 51-54 as each such portion, as shown in FIG. 18, extends between ground 152 and surface of bed 174 while the loaded pallet assembly is drawn up the sloped bed past apex 151 of angle 151. This action of the runners and surface 55 of be bendable at bottom of zone 219 yet extremely strong to provide only ,a small angle between planes 217 and 218 as measured at their junction at line 225 is due to the, limited but definite bowing of the side walls as 61 and 63 permitted by the lack of connection of the top edges of those side walls to each other except at spaced apart connections, as 160 and 161, to sheet 55; while such permitted bowing, as shown in FIG. 18A, results in bending of the runner between such points sufficient to form a small curve, as shown in FIG. 18, which is permitted by ready compression of plate 55 parallel to length of edges 101 and 102 of sheet 55 while each runner as 51 bows outwardly as shown in difference in shape of sections in FIGS. 17A and 18A. The bending of each runners as 51 beyond such predetermined initial amount is vigorously resisted by the resistance to any further lateral displacement (parallel to edge 103 of plate 55) of portions of flanges 64 and 65 attached to sheet 55. Such control of displacement provides the flexibility yet strength needed to provide the limitation of development of compression on upper portion of seed cotton mass 197; such limitation of compression in mass 197 preserves the stability of such loaded pallet assembly 190'that would otherwise be lost in loading it on transport 170 notwithstanding the care taken to develop such even compression and stability on assembly 21. As the mass of seed cotton 197 has substantially no tensile strength, once extruded, because of the development of such compressive stress, such seed cotton mass would, absent such action of the deformable pallet 50 as provided herewith for loading on a transport as 170, be left with irregularities at the sides of the mass and the loosening of the tarpaulin at its top.

While the above discussed compressive relations in mass 197 are shown as occuring in FIG. 19C at the middle of the mass 197 during the drawing of loaded pallet assembly 190 up the ramp 171, the procedure of reliev- -ing of stress at the top of the truncated wedge portion as 219 formed between relatively dimensionally stable masses of compressible material as shown in FIGS. 19C and 19D, occurs also in the mass 227 to the rear of the position of zone 219 in FIGS. 19C and 19D. The above discussion of relief of potential compressive stress at top of zone 219 in mass 197 by the above described action of the pallet 55 occurs. Thus, at position of mass 197 to the rear (toward surface 214) as well as at portions of mass 197 to the front (towards surface 211) of position of pallet assembly 190 relative to apex 151A shown in FIG. 19C, the flexibility and limited distortion of the pallet 50 provides for relief of stress in the upper portions of the cotton module mass as would otherwise cause irregularities in its outer surface resulting from high degrees of compression. Such relief is effected by the pallet 50 for the mass 197 in the zone extending from one-fourth of distance from the rear surface 214 to the front surface 211 of the mass 197 to threefourths of that distance, transport of the loaded pallet 190 on the trailer 170, as shown in FIG. 1E, and without loss of cotton by being carried away by the wind during transport due to irregular side surfaces.

The top surface 174 of the bed 171 supports the loaded pallet assembly 190 after such assembly is drawn on the trailer bed. During transport on trailer 170, the bars 72 and 74 of pallet 50 provided attachment to ropes or chains to firmly attach the loaded pallet assembly 190 to the tie downs as 179 on the trailer bed hooks.

Unloading of the loaded pallet 190 is accomplished from trailer without such compression and sideways seed cotton extrusion development in the same manner as loading onto trailer 170 is accomplished without such undue compression as produces seed cotton extrusion during loading as above described for the loading of the pallet assembly 190. Accordingly, storage of the loaded pallet at the gin yard after discharge of the loaded pallet assembly from the trailer 170 is accomplished without development of any irregularities in rhe surface as would (otherwise) provide for undersirable and excessive drying in selective points of the mass 197.

After transport thereon to the gin yard, assembly 190 has sufficient dimensional stability to be discharged from trailer to ground to await later transport to the gin while maintaining a high and substantially uniform bulk density for later transport to and rapid handling at the gm.

After removal of the mass 197 and tarpaulin 192 at the gin, the pallets 50 are very readily handled and nested for return to field for later use, as above described. The pallets 50 are each sufficiently light for ready manual handling (of one at a time) by only two operates holding bars 72 and 74 whereby the bottom of one pallet is readily placed adjacent the top surface of another to form a readily transported nest of such pallets, as pallet 50 herein described weights 400 pounds.

The location of center of bar 72, as shown in FIG. 16 which FIGURE is drawn to scale in line with top of plate 55 so that drawing of the pallet 50 along the bed surface 174 by cable 178 does not cause bending of the mass 174 as would increase compressive stress in the upper portions of the mass 197 after the bottom walls as 62-62C of each runner as 51-54 is located on the surface 174 of bed 171.

The cables 191 on the loaded pallet assembly 190, in the position shown in FIG. 1, which position is a position of such assembly while in the field on the ground surface 152 on which such loaded pallet assembly 190 is formed in the mobile press assembly 21, as above described, permits that the cables attached to the grommets and the tarpaulin above the mass 197 may move within the eyes as 244 of the hooks as 195 (and 81-84) of the loaded pallet assembly 190 while held in tension by the weights 198 and 199. The hooks 195, with the eye 244 thereof, also permits that the cables will permit movement of the tarpaulin 192 on top of the mass 197 when the mass 197 changes its shape as hereinabove described and shown in FIGS. 19A-19E during the process of movement of that mass 197 from its position on the ground surface 152 onto the inclined bed 174 of the trailer 170 when such longitudinally continuous mass of seed cotton 197 is moved from its positon as shown in FIG. 1 through the stages shown in FIGS. 19A-19-E. During such movement as shown in FIGS. 19A-19E, the top surface of the longitudinally continuous mass of seed cotton 197 provides an upward concave surface at the juncture of surface 212 and 213 of the mass 197, as well a downwardly convex surface above apex 151A of angle 151 where the lower portion of the wedge-shaped or truncated sector-shaped portion 219 contacts the top of the curved portion of the pallet 50 which curved portion is shown particularly in FIG. 18. Accordingly, the cables as 191 permit the distance from tarpaulin grommet to pallet hook eye as 244 to increase against the resiliently yieldable tension of cables 191 and 191 and movable weights 198 and 199 because those cables move freely through the hook eyes as 244 and thereby provide that the tarpaulin 192 be held to the support or pallet 50 by such cables 191 peripherally of the mass 197 in a resilient manner. The structure also permits that as the stress on one front set of cables adjacent the front surface 211 is increased consecutive increments of the longitudinally continuous mass 197 and the tarpaulin 192 thereover will cause the temporary elongation of some of the cables between the grommets of the tarpaulin and the eyes of the hooks connected to the L-shaped edge pieces 48 and 49 on the pallet 55. The ready removability of the hooks permits that operators may locate those hooks as needed and that during the stacking operations of such pallets for return of those pallets to the field at which their use is intended such stacking does not suffer interference because of interference by the hooks or loss and/or bending of such hooks. This structure also permits that the tarpaulin may be prepared (for later use by unrolling over the mass 197 as shown in FIG. 2) with the cables as 191 attached to the hooks as 195 by such cable passing through the eyes as 244 of each of such hooks and the hooks subsequently drawn down over the sides of mass 197 with the hooks attached thereto and said hooks then attached by arm end 241 hooking into an ell as 48 and 49 for the proper positioning of those cables and hooks onto the pallet 50. After the positioning of such hooks and cables, the weights 198 are applied to the cables as shown in FIGS. 3 and 19E with the hooks then properly attached to the pallet 50, as shown in FIG. 14. The cables then firmly yet releasably draw the water impermeable tarpaulin cover to the top of the mass 197. Such attachment also permits that the mass 197 can expand due to change in moisture content of the seed cotton and to relief of the pressure in said seed cotton mass; such expansion of the distance between the grommets of the tarpaulin and the fixed position of the hooks as 195 to the L-shaped side mem' bers as 48 and 49 of the pallet 50 is accommodated by that the eyes as 244 of each of the hooks as 195 permit the cable 191 to slide therethrough while bend 243 holds to the edge members as 48 and 49 of the pallet 59. The ability of these cables and hooks to accommodate changes in the distance of the grommets as 193 to the ells on the pallet 50 also provides that, during change of dimension of the portions of the tarpaulin on top of the longitudinally continuous mass 197 during the movement of that mass 197 from its position in the field 192 up the surface 174 of the inclined bed 171 of the trailer 170 that the resulting tension developed on the grommets ofthe tarpaulin will not rise to such value as will cause a compression of the cotton immediately under the tarpaulin or rupture the tarpaulin or produce extrusion of the seed cotton mass from the sides of the mass 197; nevertheless, the cables, grommets and weight provide a firm attachment of the tarpaulin to the mass 197 by virtue of the tension along all of the cables as 191 through the eyes as 244 of the separate hooks as 81, 83, 84 and 195 on each side of the mass 197 due to the effect of the weights 198 and 199 at the end of each of such cables. Cable 191 extends along the right side of the mass 197; cable 191 extends on the left side of mass 197 from weight (tire) 198 to 199.

In the preferred embodiment of pallet 50, for each runner as 51, the flange 65 is 1 1 inch total width (from the lateral edge to the plane of wall 63); the wall 63 is l-Aa inches high (from top of flange 65 to bottom of wall 62) and base wall 62 is 4 4 inches wide (from plane of outside of walls 61 to 63). These measurements are, accordingly, taken to include the curved portions attached thereto. Runners 5154 are each made of H20 inch thick 18 gauge) steel sheet for pallet 50 above described (24 feet long, 7 feet 6 inches wide size). Plate 66 is gauge.

Each hole as 68 in each plate as 66 is 1- /1 inches in diameter and each plate as 140 is 4 inches long (from edge 106 of sheet 55) and 1- 1% inches wide; plate 142 is 5-% inches long and 1-% inches wide adjacent to edge 106 of sheet 55 and 2%; inches wide at the center of hole 68. Angle 147 is 17 The hook 195 is 2- /2 inches long measured from tip of eye 244 to end of arm 243; eye 244 has /z inch internal diameter and there is 5/16 inch space between arm 242 and shaft 245; each hook as 195 is formed of 7/64 inch diameter mild steel rod and is resilient. Hook end 241 extends 1 inch from the right hand side of the bend 243, as shown in FIG. 12, and is 1- /2 inches from a line drawn vertically from the left hand side of the eye 244.

Further dimensions and curvatures may be obtained from FIG. 12 which is drawn to scale.

Pallet 250 The pallet 250 comprises an imperforate water impermeable transversely grooved surface formed of a thin corrugated imperforate steel sheet 255 like 55 and a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending runners 251, 252, 253 and 254. Runners 252 and 253 are alike but are different in structure from runners 251 and 254 which are alike only to each other. Sheet 255 and runners 251-254 are joined as above described for joining of sheet 55 and runners 5154 and drawbars as 72 and 74 are similarly held in holes as 68 and 69 in runners 251-254.

Each runner as 252 is composed of a left vertically l- /z inch) extending yet inwardly inch) sloped (about 10) left side wall 261, a bottom flat smooth horizontal sheet 262 (4 inches wide), a right l-V2 inch) vertically extending outwardly (A inch total) sloped (about 10) side wall 263, a top left flange 264 1 inch wide), a top right (1 inch wide) flange 265, a left inch wide) flange rib 266 and a right inch wide) flange rib 267; a rounded front left end plates as 66, a rear left end plate as 76 joined to wall 261 as plates 66 and 76 are joined to wall 61 and a front right end plate as 67, a rear right end plate as 77 joined to wall 262 as plates 67 and 77 are joined to wall 63. The left side wall 261 and the right side wall 263 are firmly yet resiliently joined at softly rounded (3/16 inch radius) corners as 261R and 263R along the total length of their bottom edges to the total length of the left edge and right edges, respectively, of the bottom sheet 262. The upper end of each of sides 263 and 261 are joined by corresponding soft rounded corners 264R and 265R to flanges 264 and 265, respectively. The left flange rib 266 and right flange rib 267 extend downwardly and slope at 45to horizontal, for /8 inch as in FIG. 17B, and are firmly yet resiliently joined at rounded corners as 266R and 267R along the total length of their central edges to the total length of the left and right (outer) edges of the flanges 264 and 266, respectively. The ribs 266 and 267 serve to stiffen the flanges 264 and 265. The walls and sheets 361, 262, 263, flanges 265 and ribs 266 and 267 are formed of thin medium carbon sheet steel. .05 inch thick (18 gauge) like runners 51-54, resilient yet springy and formed by cold forming a plate of such material.

Parts of runner 253 corresponding to like parts (as 262) of runner 252 are indicated by the same referent number with the letter A (e.g., 262A), as shown in FIG. 17B.

Each runner as 251 is composed of a left vertically (linch) extending yet inwardly (A inch) sloped (about left side wall 361, a bottom flat smooth horizontal sheet 362 (4 inches wide), a right l-Aa inch) vertically extending outwardly A174 inch total) sloped (about 10) side wall 363, a top left flange 364 (1 inch wide), a top side or lateral flange 365, a outer flange rib 367 and a inner inch wide) flange rib 366, a rounded front left end plate as 66, and rear left end plate as 76 joined to side wall 361 as plates 66 and 76 are joined to wall 61 and a front right end plates as 67, and rear right end plate as 77 joined to side wall 362 as plates 67 and 77 are joined to wall 362 (as in runners 252 and 253). However, in runners 251 and 254, the outer flange rib 367 extends upwardly inches) from flange 365 and is located at lateral edge of plate 255 and is firmly yet resiliently joined at corners as 365R along the total length of the outer edge of (2-% inch wide) flange 365; the inner left flange rib 366 extends downwardly and inwardly from flange 364.

The left side wall 261 and the right side wall 363 are firmly yet resiliently joined at softly rounded (3/16 inch radius) corners as 361R along the total length of their bottom edges to the total length of the left edge and right edges, respectively, of the bottom sheet 362. The upper end of each of sides 363 and 361 are joined by corresponding soft rounded corners 364R and 365R to flanges 364 and 365, respectively. The flange rib 366 extends downwardly and outwardly at 45 to horizontal, as shown in FIG. 17b, and is firmly yet resiliently joined at rounded corner 364R along the total length of its central edge to the total length of the left edge of the flange 364. The ribs 367 and 366 serve to stiffen the flanges 365 and 364, respectively. The joining of the runners to the sheet 255 is at the same spacing as above described for pallet 50: the stiffening effect of the rib flanges produces a greater strength than does the runner structure of pallet 50 and similarly prevents undersired compression of the cotton module mass as 197 supported on such a pallet loaded as above described for pallet 50 in a loaded pallet assembly holes as 390 regularly spaced along flanges 365 and 365A provide location for hooks as and such hooks locate cables as 191 (same as 191) as above described for assembly 190. Parts of runner 353 corresponding to like parts (as 362) of runner 352 are indicated by the same referent number with the letter a (e.g., 362A), as shown in FIG. 178.

I claim:

1. A pallet comprising an imperforate waterimpermeable thin corrugated sheet grooved transversely to its length and a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending like runners, each runner composed of a two like vertically extending outwardly sloped side walls and a bottom flat smooth horizontal sheet, the side walls firmly yet resiliently joined at corners along the total length of their bottom edges to the total length of the left edge and right edges, respectively, of the bottom sheet and extending upwardly therefrom, and said sheet is firmly connected to the top of said walls at regularly longitudinally spaced apart points said runners being flexible transversely to their length so that said pallet is bendable transversely to its length.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the sheet is an imperforate sheet with a plurality of like, parallel transversely extending upwardly convex grooves and downwardly convex portions thereon and the bottom of said upwardly convex portions contact said runners and the top of each of the runners is firmly joined to the bottom of said sheet at portions of such sheet that are spaced apart from each other by greater distances than the points of contact of said sheet and said runners and wherein the height of said sheet varies in periodic and uniform continuous manner from lowest points to highest points, and intermediate portions of the sheet extend vertically therebetween and are continuous therewith and provide support for said horizontally extending portions and said points of firm connection of the side walls on each runner to the bottom surface of said sheet are abreast of each other and points of attachment of all the runners to the bottom surface of sheet are also abreast of each other, each of said side walls of the runner is joined at its front end and rear and end to a heavy plate having a hole therein at level of top of said sheet, a straight bar passing through each of said holes of all of said runners and the edges of said holes of said plates firmly gripping said bar. 

1. A pallet comprising an imperforate water-impermeable thin corrugated sheet grooved transversely to its length and a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending like runners, each runner composed of a two like vertically extending outwardly sloped side walls and a bottom flat smooth horizontal sheet, the side walls firmly yet resiliently joined at corners along the total length of their bottom edges to the total length of the left edge and right edges, respectively, of the bottom sheet and extending upwardly therefrom, and said sheet is firmly connected to the top of said walls at regularly longitudinally spaced apart points said runners being flexible transversely to their length so that said pallet is bendable transversely to its length.
 1. A pallet comprising an imperforate water-impermeable thin corrugated sheet grooved transversely to its length and a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending like runners, each runner composed of a two like vertically extending outwardly sloped side walls and a bottom flat smooth horizontal sheet, the side walls firmly yet resiliently joined at corners along the total length of their bottom edges to the total length of the left edge and right edges, respectively, of the bottom sheet and extending upwardly therefrom, and said sheet is firmly connected to the top of said walls at regularly longitudinally spaced apart points said runners being flexible transversely to their length so that said pallet is bendable transversely to its length. 